Sole-leveling machine.



8.1. WENTWORTH;

S0LE'5LEVELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10. I913- Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

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s. J. WENTWOBTH. I SOLE LEVEUNG MACHINE.

, APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10, 1913- h 1,209,089. Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SH EET 2- s. J. WENT WORTH. SOLE LEVELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I0, 1913.

1,209,089. Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

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SOLE LEVELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10, 1913.

Patented Dec. 19,1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4- v Japan??? UNITED TATE rA NT OFFICE SAMUEL J. WENTWORTH, 0F NEWPORT, KENrUcKY, AssIGNo T0 UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION or NEW JERSEY.

SOLE-LEVELIN'G MACHINE.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

7 Application filed. February 10, 1913. Serial No. 747,300.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, SAMEEL J. VVENT- wosrn, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Newport, in the county of Campbell and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sole- Leveling Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to machines for operating uponshoe soles, and more particularly to machines of this type which are employed for leveling a sole after it has been incorporated in a boot or shoe.

The object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved niachine of this type which will operate with a high degree of efliciency upon varying sizes and styles of boot'and shoe soles.

With this object in view, one feature of the invention contemplates the provision of a plurality of leveling hammers, each having a striking face conforming substantially to the desired curvature ofthat portion of the sole with which it engages, and mechanism for causing the hammers to deliver a series of blows upon the shoe sole.

Still further features of the invention consist in certain novel features of construction, combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a side elevation of'a machine embodying the several features of the invention in their preferred forms; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail illustrating a section taken upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 Fig. 4 is a detail illustrating a section taken upon the line 44=-of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;' Fig. 5 is a detail view partly in section illustrating a portion of the cam and connected mechanism for oscillating the jack; Fig. 6 is a detail showing a section taken upon the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 and illustrating the ack adjusting mechanism; Fig. 7 is a detail showing a section upon the line 77 of Fig. 1 illustrating the mechanism for retaining the jack in a vertical position when the machine at rest;

and Fig. 8 is a view partially diagrammatic, illustrating a section of one of the hammers in operative engagement with the shoe sole.

The machine shown in the illustrated embodiment of the-invention imparts the desired curvature to the shoe sole by a series of leveling blows delivered in rapid succession while the shoe is supported upon the jack. The leveling device consists of a plurality of hammers 2, each'of which is provided with a striking face shaped to conform to thedesired curvature of the shoe sole in cross section. The hammers project transversely across the shoe sole and when in operative position the striking face of each hammer contacts with the sole throughout its entire width, as shown clearly in Fig. 8. WVith thisconstruction the shoe sole. is rapidly molded to the curvature of the last bottom and the surface of the soleris compacted and fin'ishedby the levelingblows delivered -thereon. 7

In order to facilitate the jacking of the shoe, the shoe supporting jack is normally held in a position of presentationv and is moved automaticallytherefrom to a position directly beneath the hammers, inwhich latter position it is supported for a predetermined length of time to allow the proper leveling of the sole. In order to increase the efficiency of the-hammers and produce a better quality of work the jack is oscillated laterally during the leveling operation. The jack 5 is slidingly maintained in horizontal ways formed in a vertical cross head 7, and

a lever 8 is connected to the jack through a link 9 to move the ack horizontally to and from a position of presentation. The lever 8 is fulcrumed at its lower end in the machine frame 11 and is actuated from the cam 13 through a link 15 connected to the lever '8 intermediate its ends. A'cam' roll 14 is journaled upon the link 15 and is maintainedin the proper position in the cam grooveby the slotted inner end 16 of the link which embraces a camshaft 17. p The cam 13 moves the jack from a position of presentation to a position directly beneath the leveling hammers and retains the jack in this position during the leveling of the shoe sole. I

To prevent the edges of the hammers from marring the surface-of the sole a rapid reciprocatory movement transversely of the hammers is imparted to the jack by the cam 13 during the leveling operation, and this movement is just sufficient to cause the successive blows delivered by the hammers to overlap one another. The jack is normally positioned below the leveling hammers and in order to cause the hammers to operatively engage with the sole a vertical movement is imparted to the jack simultaneously with the movement from a position of presentation. To this end the cross head 7 is supported by a pair of toggles 19 having their opposite ends connected respectively with the cross head and the frame of the machine. The toggles are actuated in unison to raise and lower the cross-head by a rod 22 connecting the central portion of one of the toggles with a cam 25, and a link 21 connecting the two toggles together. A cam roll 24 is journaled upon the free end of the rod 22 and is supported in the proper relation tothe cam 25 by an arm 23 connecting the actuating rod and frame. With this construction the jack first moves inwardly and upwardly from a position of presentation to a leveling position, is retained. in this position for a predetermined length of time while the leveling hammers operate, and is then automatically returned to its initial position.

, In order to accommodate lasts of varying depth, mechanism is conveniently provided for adjusting the vertical position of the jack. To this end the toggles 19 are connected to .the cross-head 7 through a pair of slotted blocks 26 and wedges 27 interposed between the cross-head and the slotted blocks. With this construction, by adjusting the wedges horizontally, the distance between the toggles and cross-head is varied, thus raising and lowering the jack. The wedges are rigidly connected by a bar 29, and an adjusting lever 30 is connected to one of the wedges through a link 31 and serves to adjust both wedges equally. The adjusting lever 30 is fulcrumed at its lower end upon an arm 32 extending from one of the blocks 25 and in order to retain the lever in any adjusted position it is provided with a spring pressed shoe 33 which frictionally engages with the curved face of a fixed segment 34 secured to the block 35. The jack is normally retained in a vertical position, but is oscillated laterally at predetermined intervals, and to this end mechanism is accordingly provided for causing an intermittent oscillation of the jack. A tube 36 is rigidly secured by brackets 37 to the side of thecross-head 7 and slidingly receives a shoe 38 rigidly connected to the jack through a curved arm 40. The shoe slides in the guide tube as the jack is moved horizontally, and when the jack moves into a leveling position, the shoe passes from the open end of the guide tube into the bifurcated upper end of a, lever The lever 42 is pivoted at 43 to Fig. 5. In order to oscillate the lever laterally the cam 45 is provided throughout a portion of its face with a series of radlal ribs 46 which serve to impart a lateral oscil .lation to the jack when positioned beneath the leveling hammers. In theillustrated embodiment of the invention, the cam 45 is ranged to impart the desired rocking movement to the jack during the major portion of the leveling operation, but just prior to the completion of the operation the jack is held stationary while the hammers operate upon the sole. The jack 5 is supported upon a carrier 47, and a lateral rocking movement of the jack relative to the carrier is permitted through the provision of curved ways 48 formed upon the carrier and engaging with co6perating ribs 49 formed upon the base member 51 0f the jack. In order that this rocking movement shall not cause a bodily displacement of the shoe sole. the guideways 48 cause the jack to rock about an aXis lying substantially on the surface of the sole. In order to operate efliciently upon varying sizes of shoes, it is desirable that the rocking movement imparted to the jack shall be varied. To this end the ribs 46 are of a gradually diminishing height from the periphery toward the aXis of the cam, thus causing a variation of the rocking movement to be imparted to the lever 42 as the cam roll 44 is adjusted across the face of the cam. The cam'roll 44 is slidingly supported upon a stud secured in the lower end of the lever 42. An adjusting lever 52 is pivoted to the machine frame between its ends and the lower end of the lever is connected to the roll through an arm 53 secured to the lever and having a bifurcated end which em braces an annular groove formed in the roll. as shown clearly in Fig. 5. The upper end of the lever projects into a position conveniently accessible to the operator and is provided with a spring pressed detent 55 which engages with a toothed segment 56 to retain the lever in any adjusted position. With this construction, by manipulating the lever 52 the cam roll may be adjusted radially across the face of the cam 45, either when the machine is at rest or in operation to vary the lateral rocking movements imparted to the jack 5. The shoe supporting jack 5 is provided with the usual toe post 58 and heel post 60 which are slidingly supported upon the base 51. The toe and heel post are adjusted equal amounts in opposite directions by a right and left handed screw 62 provided with a hand wheel 63 and threadedly engaging with the lower ends of the posts, as shown clearlv in 1 ig. 6. The screw 62 is prevented from moving longitudinallv b the stud 64 secured in the 51 and engaging With a peripheral groove formed in the screw.

After the shoe is jacked the'machine is started by the operator and at the completion of the cycle of operations the machine is-automatically stopped with the jack in its initial position. A main drive pulley is connected in any suitable manner with a driven pulley 66 loosely journaled upon the shaft 67. The annular rim of the pulley 66 is provided on its inner. face with a plurality of ratchet teeth 68 which are normally engaged by' a spring pressed dog 70 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. The dog 70 is pivoted upon the hub 71 and a compres sion spring 72 serves to press the nose of the dog into engagement with the teeth 68; The dog is held out of engagement with the teeth of the pulley by a trip member 73 formed upon one end of a lever 7 5 *which is fulcrumed upon the frame at 76. The trip member 7 3 is normally depressed by a spring 77 connecting the opposite end of the lever with the machine frame. In order to move the trip member into engagement with the clutch dog, a pin 80 is supported at the end of the lever and is arranged to engage beneath a lateral block 81 secured to the face of the worm wheel 82. The end of the lever 75 in which the pin is slidingly supported is provided with a spiral slot 83, and a laterally extending finger 841 is secured to the pin and extends through the slot. When the finger is rocked the pin 80 is moved in the direction of its length through the engagement of the finger 84 with the sides of the slot'83. The pin is normally retained in an extended position to engage beneath the block 81 by a torsion spring 85 having its opposite ends connected respectively to the lever 75 and a collar 86 secured to the end of the pin. The finger 84 is rocked downwardly to disengage the pin from the block 81 by a treadle rod 88 connecting the outer end of the finger with a treadle 90. With this construction, upon a depression of the treadle the pin 80 is disengaged from the block 81, allowing the arm 75 to move under the action of the spring 77, releasing the clutch dog 70 which then engages with the pulley 66. A driving worm 91 is formed upon an elongated sleeve 92 integral with the hub 71 and is actuated by the drive pulley through the clutch dog 70 to drive a worm wheel 82; The wheel '82 has a bevel gear 94 connected thereto which meshes with a bevel gear 95 secured to the upper end of a counter-shaft 96. The lower end of the shaft 96 carries a bevel gear 97 meshing with a bevel gear 98 secured to the cam shaft'17. The cam shaft 17 carries the various cams for properly controlling the movements of the shoe supporting jack as heretofore described. Upon releasing the treadle. the pin 80 returned to its initial position and when the Worm Wheel 82 has completed one revolution, a beveled underface formed upon a block 81 engages the pin 80, rocking the lever 7 5 to disengage the clutch dog and stop the operation of the jack actuating mech-. anism.

It is desirable that the leveling hammers shall remain at rest during the greater por tion of the movement of the jack into and out of a leveling position, and to this end mechanism is provided for throwing the hammers into and out of operation during the continuous operation of the jack actuating mechanism. The inner face of the worm wheel 82 has a curved rib 100 secured thereto which engages with the end of the tripping lever 101 pivoted upon the machine frame at 102. The opposite free end of this lever as shown clearly in Fig. 1 contacts With the clutch dog 103 which is supported in the hub of the sprocket wheel 10 1. The annular rim of the pulley 66 is provided upon the side of its inner face adjacent the sprocket wheel With a plurality of clutch teeth which are engaged by the nose of the clutch dog 103. The clutch dog 103 is pivotally supported in the hub of the sprocket wheel 104': and the spring 106 serves to normally move the clutch dog into engagement with the coiiperating teeth 105 upon its release by the tripping lever 101. It will be observed froman inspection of Fig. 1 that the end of the tripping lever 101 is positioned centrally of the curved rib 100 when the machine is at rest in order that the tripping lever shall not release the dog and start the operation of the hammers until the jack has completed its movement into" position beneath the hammers, and in a like manner the tripping lever rengages with the rib to stop the operation of the hammers during the time that the jack is returning to a position of presentation. The sprocket wheel 104 is connected through a drivingchain 106 with a twin sprocket wheel107, and the two sprocket wheels are secured respectively to cam shafts 67 and 111 which carry a plurality of hammer elevating cams 109'. The elevating cams are provided with operation. The working stroke is imparted to each hammer by a spring 112 secured at one end to the machine frame, as shown in Fig. 1, and having its opposite free end bearing upon the upper face of the hammer. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the cams 109 are arranged to operate the hammers supported on opposite sides in rapid succession, thus causing a series of blows to be delivered upon the shoe sole advancing progressively over the length of the sole. The under side of each of the hammers is provided with a recess 113 allowing the hammer to be suddenly depressed by the spring 112 when the shoulder upon the elevating cam 109 engages with the recess. It will be obvious that with this construction the hammers are operated to engage simultaneously with the sole, although the blows are delivered successively to the sole.

In order to reduce to a minimum the pos sibility of marring the shoe sole and to enable the sole to present a smooth finished appearance in addition to conforming to the shape of the last after the hammers have operated thereon, a shield is interposed be tween the leveling device and the surface of the sole. In the present construction a comparatively thin, flexible member 115 is positioned beneath the leveling hammers in en gagement with the shoe sole when the jack is in a leveling position. The member 115 is supported upon opposite sides by springs 116 which enable the member to yield when engaged by the hammers and transmit the blows of the hammers to the shoe sole. In this manner the shield receives the direct blows of the hammers and transmits them to the sole, causing the sole to conform to the curvature of the last without marking or otherwise marring the smooth finished ap pearance of the sole.

WVhile it is preferred to employ the specific construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, it will be understood that this construction and arrangement is not essential except so far as specified in the claims, and may be changed-or modified without departing from the broader features of the invention.

The invention having been described, what is claimed is 1. A sole leveling machine having, in combination, a shoe supporting jack, a plurality of leveling hammers each having a striking face conforming substantially to the desired curvature of that portion of the sole with which it engages, and mechanism for actuating the hammers simultaneously to level the sole by a plurality of blows delivered thereon.

2. A leveling machine having, in combination, a leveling device provided with a plurality of striking faces, mechanism for actuating the leveling device to cause the striking faces to simultaneously engage with the shoe sole, a shoe supporting jack, and mechanism for automatically moving the jack to and from a leveling position and for supporting it in this position during the operation of. the leveling device.

' 8. A leveling machine having, in combination, a leveling device provided with a plurality of striking faces, mechanism for actuating the leveling deviceto cause a plurality of the striking faces to simultaneously engage the sole, a shoe supporting jack, and mechanism for automatically moving the jack to and from a leveling position and for oscillating the jack laterally during the op eration of the leveling device.

1. A leveling machine having, in combination, a plurality of leveling hammers, mechanism for actuating the hammers simultaneously to level the sole, a shoe supportingv jack, and mechanism for automatically. moving the jack to and from a leveling position beneath the hammers and for reciprocating the jack longitudinally during the operation of the hammers.

5. A leveling machine having, in combination, a plurality of leveling hammers, mechanism for actuating the hammers to level the sole, a shoe supporting ack, and mechanism for reciprocating the jack longitudinally during the operation of the hammers to cause the blows delivered by the hammers to overlap.

6. A leveling machine having, in combination, a plurality of leveling hammers, mechanism for actuating the hammers to level the sole, a shoe supporting jack, and mechanism for oscillating the ack laterally to shape the sole and for reciprocating the jack longitudinally during the operation of the hammers to cause the blows to overlap.

7. A leveling machine having, in combination, a plurality of leveling hammers, a shoe supporting jack, mechanism for moving the jack from a position of presentation into a leveling position beneath the hammers and for returning the jack to its initial position at the completion of the leveling operation, and mechanism for automatically starting the operation of the hammers when the jack is moved into a leveling position.

8. A leveling machine having, in combination, a plurality of leveling hammers, mechanism for actuating the hammers to level the sole, a shoe supporting jack, and mechanism for reciprocating the jack transversely of the hammers to cause the blows delivered by the hammers to overlap.

9. A leveling machine having, in combination, a leveling device provided with a plurality of striking faces, mechanism for actuating the leveling device to cause the striking faces to engage with the shoe sole, a shoe supporting jack, and means interposed between the leveling device and the shoe sole to receive the direct blows of the striking faces as the leveling device is actuated.

10. A leveling machine having, in combination, a plurality of leveling hammers each having a striking face conforming substannation, a leveling device, actuating mechanism for the leveling device, a shoe support ing jack, mechanism for oscillating the jack laterally during the operation of the leveling device, and means under the control of the operator for varying the extent of the lateral oscillations of the jack during the continuous operation of the machine.

12. A leveling machine having, in combination, a leveling device provided with a plurality of striking faces for beating out the surface of a sole, a shoe supporting jack, mechanism for oscillating the jack laterally when positioned beneath the'leveling device, and means for automatically stopping the oscillation of the jack during the continuous operation of theleveling device to cause the leveling device to act upon the'shoe while held stationary. g

13. A leveling machine having, in combination, a leveling device, a shoe supporting jack, a cam having a series of radial ribs formed upon its face diminishing in height from the periphery to the center of the cam, connections between the cam and jack to oscillate the jack laterally, and means for adjusting the connections across the face of the cam to vary the oscillations of the jack.

14. A leveling machine having, in combination, a leveling device, a shoe supporting jack, a cam for oscillating the jack laterally, operative connections between the cam and jack, and mechanism under the control of the operator for bringing different portions of the cam into operationto vary the oscillatory movement of the jack. r

15. A leveling machine having, in combination, a shoe supporting jack, a plurality of leveling hammers fulcrumed at one side of the jack and extending transversely of the shoe, and mechanism for actuating the hammers to contact with and level the sole.

16. A leveling machine comprising a shoe supporting jack, a leveling hammer fulcrumed at one side of the jack and having a curved striking face extending transversely of; the shoe, mechanism for elevating the hammer, and a spring for depressing the,

hammer to strike a sharp percussive blow upon the sole. v

17. A leveling machine having, in combination, a shoe supportingjack, a plurality of leveling hammers fulcrumed alternately upon opposite sides of the jack and extending transversely of the shoe, and mechanism for successively actuating the hammers to level the sole.

18. A leveling machine having, in combi- 19. A leveling-machine, having, in combie nation, a shoe supporting jack, a plurality of leveling hammers arranged lengthwise of the jack, means-for moving the jack toward and'from the hammers, and mechanism for actuating the hammers to level the sole of a shoe supported upon the ack.

20. A leveling machine, having, in combination, a shoe supporting jack, a plurality of leveling hammers arranged lengthwise of the jack, means for moving the jack toward and from the hammers, and mechanism for actuating the hammers to deliver a succession of blows upon a shoe sole progressing lengthwise of the sole.

SAMUEL J WENTWORTH.

Witnesses CLARENCE B. Fos'rER, OLIVER B. Krusnn;

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the commissioner of Patent; Washington, D. G. 

